JESUS SAW HIMSELF IN GENESIS II About Jacobıs ladder To Know: ³He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.² ³When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it.ı He was afraid and said, ³How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.² (Gen. 28:12,16,17) When Jesus read of Jacobıs ladder, he doubtless saw himself. That is why Jesus said to Nathaniel, ³I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.² (Jn. 1:51) In Jesus, heaven connects to earth. Presently, it is popular to believe that not only other religious leaders but everyone else as well has automatic access to heaven. As one who has conducted hundreds of funerals, I cannot remember one where the mourners expressed the least doubt that God was not eagerly waiting to greet the deceased. This they believed regardless of whether or not their dear departed had any interest at all in Jesus Christ. According to Christ, he is proof of Godıs goodness. Only one man who ever lived had the right to return to God. Eligibility for entrance into the presence of a holy God is a holy life. Except for one human being, ³all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.² (Rm. 3:23) That lone holy man is Jesus Christ. No one was more convinced of his unique holiness than Jesus Christ himself. Jesus proclaimed, ³I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.² (Jn. 14:6) Jesus saw himself in the Old Testament account of the ladder in Jacobıs dream as the way for earth and heaven to be joined. Jacobıs ladder is instructive for men and women who know themselves to be in Christ. Jacob identified the location of the ladder as the house of God. God makes his home in the lives of his people. Jesus taught his disciples, ³If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.² (Jn. 14:23) Because Christ is in believers even as believers are in him, the ladder to heaven is the message of Christ by which sinners reconnect to the Father in heaven. 012810$-012810 <{{{{{{>< Other posts: |